Explaining Wine Bottle Sizes

What does a wine bottle size mean for you?

Here are the basic wine bottle sizes, with
names varying depending on region. Whilst it might not mean a lot if you’re
buying a bottle to share sometime soon with your friends, it will mean a lot
more if you’re cellaring it for years to come!

Generally, as we go up in size, the air-to-wine
ration gets smaller, in theory making the wine able to be aged longer or make
it slower to develop.

Standard
750ml bottles

Virtually
every winemaker, wholesaler and retailer will bottle, stock and sell their
wines in this size. It is the standard size for wine. This is perfect for
regular consumption, however because it is the most widely available, it is
also highly common to see these sizes cellared if they are of cellaring potential
(and not all are!).

Magnums

Magnums
are a 1.5 litre bottle of wine, around 16 standard drinks. It is offered in
Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne bottles as well as other variants. The larger we
go up in bottle size, the slower (in theory) the wine will age, if kept in the
right conditions. Magnums are great for a large dinner party or wine event
where more people need access to the same bottle of the same vintage. It is
also fun to say that your group finished off a magnum over lunch (not encouraging
anyone, though!).

Next
comes a Marie-Jeanne, at 2.25 litres, but since this is going out of fashion,
we’ll skip to the next!

Double-Magnums/Jeroboams

In
Bordeaux bottles, this 3 litres bottle is generally known as a double-magnum,
since it is double the capacity of a magnum. In Burgundy and Champagne bottles,
it is often referred to as a Jeroboam, setting the trend for biblical names for
these large size bottles. What we’re getting into here is serious capacity,
containing around 30-35 standard drinks. This would suit a very large party, or
a connoisseurs dinner party, or a large tasting (if that’s your thing!).

Jeroboam/Rehoboam

Confusion
comes in here since in Bordeaux sizes, a 4.5 litre bottle is generally called a
Jeroboam (remember a Burgundy or Champagne Jeroboam will generally be 3
litres), and the Burgundy of Champagne equivalent is the Rehoboam. These
changes are due to bottle shape but also the origins and traditions differ in
different regions!

Imperiale/Methusaleh

In
Bordeaux wines, a six litre bottle is generally known as an Imperiale, and you
will see this size talked about a lot, although they’re rare in vintages from
top chateaux. Burgundy or Champagne in this size is known as a Methusaleh,
keeping their biblical tradition. This represents enormous aging potential, and
would be hugely impressive to wheel out (that’s what you’d have to do!) at a
dinner party or celebration. This is around 60 standard wine servings. An
Imperiale of top Bordeaux wine Cheval Blanc 1947 sold just a couple of years
ago at auction, and it is rare to see them from these chateaux. Read about that here.

Just out
of sheer entertainment, here’s what a Melchior size bottle looks like, in
comparison to a man. A Melchior is 18 litres of wine, or 24 bottles worth. This
is a Cheval Blanc Melchior, and the potential here is unbelievable. It is one
of only ten Melchiors made by Cheval Blanc for 2006.

2
comments:

Look at the size of this wine glass bottle it is very huge and big, and also look the shining of this glass bottle. Glass bottles are very first choice for storing the wine because it keep wine fresh and strong for a drinker. Colored Italian Glass

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I think I was captured by how essentially natural or organic the whole process of winemaking is. It's farming, it's viticulture, it's weather and soil, and many more things. It's the winemaker. But after all these things, after the cap is unscrewed or the cork popped, I (and you) get to enjoy it. Then we talk about it and learn some more. Which is, I guess, the reason why you're here! Here you'll find stories, links, wine education samples and wine reviews. I am entirely independent and my wine reviews and ratings are based on my own thoughts and opinions. I accept no endorsements for products or good reviews.
Enjoy! I can be reached for comments, feedback and questions at dbtaylor01@gmail.com.
Good drinking to you!
David